MayoClinic.com, Adds Three New Centers Focusing On Osteoporosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis And Osteoarthritis

Main Category: Bones / Orthopaedics
Also Included In: Arthritis / Rheumatology
Article Date: 16 Jun 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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MayoClinic.com , an award-winning consumer health information site, has added three new centers focusing on osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The new areas provide visitors with detailed, easy-to-find information on symptoms, tests, diagnosis and complications associated with these conditions.

Osteoporosis Center

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, it can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These fractures occur typically in the hip, spine and wrist.

The new Osteoporosis Center on MayoClinic.com provides users with treatment information, plus background on symptoms, prevention and risk factors.

Osteoporosis is a major public health threat, potentially affecting 55 percent of Americans over 50. While it is often thought of as an older person's disease, it can strike at any age. In the United States, an estimated 10 million people (20 percent of them men) already have the disease and nearly 34 million more have low bone mass, increasing their risk for osteoporosis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Center

The nagging pains and physical limitations of the more than 100 forms of arthritis are common to millions of people. Rheumatoid arthritis is among the most debilitating of all forms, mainly characterized by inflammation of the lining, or synovium, of the joints. It can lead to long-term joint damage, resulting in chronic pain, loss of function and disability.

The new Rheumatoid Arthritis Center on MayoClinic.com provides users with information on rheumatoid arthritis treatment, plus details on symptoms, tests, diagnosis and complications.

About 2 million people in the United States, approximately 1 percent, have rheumatoid arthritis. It can affect anyone, including children, but 70 percent of people who have the disease are women. Onset usually occurs between 30 and 50 years of age.

Treatments for arthritis have improved in recent years. Most involve medications. But in some cases, surgery may be necessary.

There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis. But with proper treatment, a strategy for joint protection and changes in lifestyle, patients can live long, productive lives.

Osteoarthritis Center

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, and occurs most often as people age. Sometimes it's called degenerative joint disease or osteoarthrosis.

The new Osteoarthritis Center on MayoClinic.com provides visitors with information on osteoarthritis treatment and symptoms. The site also discusses diagnosis and the disease's complications.

Nearly 21 million Americans over age 25 have osteoarthritis. Although it's more common in older people, younger people can develop it -- usually as the result of a joint injury, a joint malformation, or a genetic defect in joint cartilage. Before age 45, more men than women have osteoarthritis; after age 45, it is more common in women. It's also more likely to occur in people who are overweight or who have jobs that put stress particular joints.

There's no cure for osteoarthritis, but available treatments can relieve pain and help individuals remain active.

About MayoClinic.com

Launched in 1995 and now visited by nearly 10 million users a month, this award-winning Web site offers health information, self-improvement, and disease management tools to empower people to manage their health. Produced by a team of Web professionals and medical experts, MayoClinic.com gives users access to the experience and knowledge of the more than 2,000 physicians and scientists of Mayo Clinic. MayoClinic.com offers intuitive, easy-to-use tools such as "Symptom Checker" and "First-Aid Guide" for fast answers about health conditions ranging from common to complex; as well as more in-depth sections on over 25 common diseases and conditions, healthy living articles, videos, animations and features such as "Ask a Specialist" and "Drug Watch." Users can sign up for a free weekly e-newsletter called "Housecall" which provides the latest health information from Mayo Clinic. For more information, visit http://www.mayoclinic.com.